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Samurai Vs Knights Research Paper

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“One day you are born you die the next - today, at twilight, autumn breezes blow.” - Chikamasa. During the late 1100s in Japan, there were two large groups called the Taira and the Minamoto who battled to control the country. The Minamoto won the civil war and made a new government controlled by a powerful general called the shogun. Warriors in Japan were called Samurai. In Europe the warriors were called knights. Knights trained in exchange for farmland or food and they swore to be loyal to the nobles. There were more differences than similarities Samurai and Knights like there feudal class systems, loyalty to the feudal lord in their country, the type of armor they wear, codes of honor, and feelings about death. To begin with, Samurai and knights had many differences because of the feudal class systems. The feudal system in Japan ran from Emperor, Shogun, Daimyo, Samurai, Peasant farmers, artisans and trades people, and merchants. As well …show more content…

A Samurai’s armor were made of small armor iron scales that were tied together, lacquered, and then made into armor plates with silk or leather cords. Samurai did not wear armor on their right arm so they can draw their bow faster. The knight’s armor was made of chain mail then changed to metal compared to a Samurai’s armor but, since the knight’s armor was made of metal it was able to protect the knight from cannons and crossbows. But a disadvantage of the knight’s is that is was too heavy and if knocked down it was hard to get back up as opposed to the Samurai’s armor only got heavy when wet. “One disadvantage of samurai armor is that when it became wet, the silk cords absorbed water and became heavy.” and, “As more powerful weapons such as crossbows and longbows became common, chain mail was no longer sufficient protection. In response, knights began to wear complete suits of armor, constructed from metal.”(Document

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